The Spell of Making

I have been rereading one of my favorite books on the subject of crafting a ritual. The book is Blacksun’s Spell of Making. It is a wonderful book on ritual construction that gives you a very pragmatic approach to creating the basic structure or form of any ritual regardless of your religion. I recommend it as a worthwhile read for anyone who is interested in the subject. It is the inspiration for this post.

In the beginning of the book it gives an example ritual that Blacksun calls the Spell of Making. One line in the example ritual always strikes a chord in my heart:

“The balance between your air, your fire, your water, and your earth is the key to the fifth element: the element of spirit. Keep the balance and your spirit will grow. The altar of the spirit element is in the center of the circle. You are the center of the circle; you are the altar of the spirit. To grow in spirituality, keep the wheel turning and keep it balanced” -Blacksun

We are our own temple. We are Sacred. And in us all – even if you do not know it – is an altar where we make the magic that we fill the world with. When was the last time you looked another human in the eyes or connected with them? When was the last time you looked yourself in the eyes and had a conversation with yourself? I think it is very important to remember to tend to this temple and the altar within yourself just as you would tend to any external altar. Do the same things that you would do to tend any external temple and apply them to yourself. Take time to treat yourself as sacred. Do the things that make you happy in your soul. Also, and I think its just as important, remember that no one can enter your temple or place anything on your altar without your express permission. Just make sure to invite people in to share that which is divinity and the sacredness that is you.

It has been my personal experience that Pagans (and humanity in general) focus on the external world because it is simpler. There is always something about the introspective process that I think makes people hesitant. Sometimes we are even wary of any connection (or even the potential of one) with another human being.

“There is no coming to consciousness without pain. People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” – Carl Gustav Jung

Don’t be hesitant, wary, or afraid. Dare to get to know your inner self. If you do not find something you love, you can always change it. But I am willing to bet that you will be better off for knowing it. I think it is always better to know than to not know, even if it hurts because that gives us the opportunity to grow.

Remember “all things which have been thought, given energy, and made meaningful by your emotions are of value to neither yourself nor anyone else if not made real. But remember, what you make real, you are responsible for.” (Blacksun)